Lid lock carton



April 12, 1966 P. D. FRIDAY LID LOCK CARTON Filed Nov. 1

INVENTOR.

PAU L D. FRIDAY United States Patent "Ice 3,245,600 LID LOCK CARTON PaulD. Friday, 4480 SW. Laurelwood Drive, Portland, Oreg. Filed Nov. 1,1963, Ser. No. 320,723 13 Claims. (Cl. 229-25) This invention relates toa carton for eggs and other fragile articles.

Most cartons for this purpose and, particularly molded pulp cartons, aredeficient in their resistance to collapse whereby the contents of thecartons are often crushed or damaged when the cartons are stacked andcarried one on top of another. It is desirable to have a carton whichwill afford better protection to its contents, particularly in theprocess of handling large numbers of the cartons in stacked relation. Itis also desirable to have a carton in which all the contents may beviewed at least partially without opening the carton and to have aninexpensive carton which may be equipped with a transparent cover forfull view of the contents.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved carton ofthe type described. More particular objects are to provide a cartonhaving improved resistance to collapse so that the contents will beprotected against crushing, to,provide a carton having upstanding poststo support its lid, to provide an improved cover locking arrangement, toprovide a carton having a detachable cover, to provide a carton of thetype described which is designed to be molded from wood or paper pulpand the like, to provide a carton in which all the contents may beviewed without opening the cover, and to provide a carton which may beequipped with a transparent cover.

The bottom section of the present carton is equipped with a row of postsin its central portion which extend up to sufficient height to supportthe cover whereby any weight imposed upon the cover is directlysupported by these posts and not brought to bear upon the contents ofthe carton. The contents are nested in individual pockets which in acarton for eggs are arranged preferably in two rows. The outside wallsare cut away so that a partial view is had of all of the contentswithout opening the carton. The cover may be either hinged or detachableand a transparent cover may be provided to afford the user a full viewof the contents.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent andthe invention will be better understood from the following descriptionof certain preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated on theaccompanying drawing. Various changes may be made, however, in thedetails of construction and certain features may be used without others.All such modifications within the scope of the appended claims areincluded in the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton having a hinged lid embodyingthe features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the carton of FIGURE 1 with thelid in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevation view showing the lid lock structureon the carton and lid;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modified bottom sectionfor use with a detachable cover; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of a detachable cover in invertedposition for use with the bottom section shown in FIGURE 4.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the carton comprises a bottom or tray section andan integral cover section 11. The two parts are molded of pulp orplastic in one piece vw'th the cover in opened out position flat withthe base section. The base section contains a plurality of article- "13to provide a cushioned support.

3,245,5fifl Patented Apr. 12, 1986 receiving pockets 12 in rectangulararrangement. bottom of each pocket is preferably cupped upward at Thepockets are separated by inverted hollow V-shaped partitions 14extending longitudinally and transversely. In the present instance thesepartitions form two rows of pockets in side-by-side relation.

Intermediate the edges of the carton these partitions merge into a rowof hollow posts 15 having flat tops 16 which are of suflicient height tosupport the center portion of the cover as shown in FIGURE 2. Around thefour sides of the carton these partitions merge into hollow posts 17 oflesser height. The posts 15 are of frustoconical shape while the posts17, except the corner posts, are half cones having fiat tops 18. Thefour corner posts 17a are hollow quarter cones, also having fiat tops18. All the top surfaces 18 are in a common plane and all the topsurfaces 16 are in a common plane on a higher level.

The cover 11 has a peripheral outstanding rim flange 19 all in oneplane, one edge of which is integral with the material forming topsurfaces 18 on the hinge side of the bottom section. The hingeconnecting the cover with the bottom section is an interrupted hinge asindicated at 20. When the cover is closed its rim flange 19 rests on thetop surfaces 1% around all four sides of the carton. Thus, the posts 17and 17a may be designated as cover seating posts.

Outside wall segments 21 interconnect and merge into the half cones 17and quarter cones 17a. These wall segments have upper edges 22 of lessheight than the cones, leaving an opening 23 through which the contentsof each pocket 12 may be partially viewed when the cover is closed.

On the side opposite the hinge there are two hollow half cone posts 25having flat tops 26 on a level intermediate the plane of top surfaces 18and the plane of top surfaces 16. These are locking posts which engagecatch members 27 on the cover. Catch members 27 are also preferablytrusts-conical in order to draw properly from the molding die. Eachmember 27 is a hollow inwardly projecting protuberance or lug merginginto offset side wall portions 218 on the side wall of the coveropposite its hinge. The protuberance 27 has a horizontal upper lip edge30 forming the lower edge of an opening 31 which extends up to the flattop wall 32 of the cover. The rim flange 19 is interrupted at the offsetwall portions 28 and may or may not cover the small end of conicalprotuberance 27.

When the cover is folded over to close the carton, the small end 35 ofprotuberance 27 clears the outer straight edge 36 of top surface 26 oflocking post 2d, and some point on the conical surface of protuberance27 engages this edge as side wall portions 28 overlap the posts 25.Then, as the cover is pressed down, the post 25 and pro tuberance 27yield to allow the protuberance to pass the edge 36. Upper lip edge 30then snaps under the edge 36 to lock the cover securely closed, as shownin FIG- URE 2.

To release the catch for opening the cover it is only necessary to pressthe post 25 inwardly or toward the left in FIGURE 2 sufficiently todisengage the edge 36 from the lip edge 30. The two posts 25 are closeenough together so that this can be conveniently done with two fingersof one hand while the thumb bears against the hinge side of the cartonbase portion. With the two catches released in this manner, the otherhand is free to lift the cover.

FIGURE 5 shows a detachable cover 40 having catch members 2'7 on itsopposite sides and no hinge connection. The opposite sides of the coverare identical for use with the bottom section 10a shown in FIGURE 4, theopposite sides of which are also identical. There The are two locldngposts 25 on each side of the bottom section the to mate with catchmembers 27. The cover is released by pressing the two locking posts 25on one side inwardly so that one side of the cover may be raised inhinged movement. Then the cover may be moved laterally to disengage thecatch members 27 on the opposite J side.

Bottom section 19a is identical to bottom section it in FIGURE 1 exceptthat it has no hinge and two of the hinge posts 17 in FIGURE 1 arereplaced by locking posts 25. Section 19:; has the remaining posts 17,corner posts 17a, center posts 15, partitions 14, wall segments 21 andpockets 12 the same as in FIGURE 1. The rim flange 19 of cover 40 restson top of posts 17 leaving an opening 23 for inspection of the contentsof each pocket as in FIGURE 1.

The detachable cover 40 may be made of pulp'the same as bottom section10a. For display purposes the cover 40 may be made of transparentplastic material so that the contents of the carton may be morecompletely viewed through the cover.

A particular advantage of the present form of construction for opaqueegg cartons is that the openings 23 formed by the serrated orcastellated edges provide a sufficient View of every egg in the cartonto permit the customer to observe the size and color of all the eggs inall the cartons without opening the cartons.

The nature of the catch members is such that they are not damaged byrepeated opening and closing of the cover whereby both the hinged covercarton and the detachable cover carton are suitable for re-use for aconsiderable period of time whereas in many conventional pulp cartonsthe catch devices are damaged the first time the cover is opened. In thecase of an egg carton this permits a number of eggs to be removed fromtime to time and the cover re-latched securely so that the carton may beplaced safely on its side or on end in the refrigerator. This is a greatconvenience not shared by many conventional egg cartons.

When the cartons are stacked and handled, the articles in pockets 12 areprotected by center posts 15. The hollow conical shape of these postsmakes the cartons extremely resistant to collapse without any additionalcost in manufacture. The peripheral cover seating posts 17 and 17a arealso three dimensional, imparting much greater columnar strength to thebottom section than exists in conventional cartons. While the posts musttaper in order to draw from the molding die, they do not have to becircular in cross section but may be of polygonai section, if desired.

Having now described my invention and in what man-- ner the same may beused, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A carton comprising a bottom section and a cover section, said bottomsection comprising pockets and posts between said pockets along thesides of said bottom section, wall segments of less height than saidposts extending between said posts, said cover section having a rimportion resting on top of said posts and leaving openings between saidposts for inspection of the contents of the pockets, an interruptedhinge for said cover on said posts on one side of said bottom section,cover locking posts of reater height than said side posts interposedbetween said side posts on the opposite side of said bottom section,catch means on said cover engageable with said cover locking posts,there being a plurality of rows of said pockets in said bottom section,and center posts of greater height than said side posts supporting saidcover between said rows of pockets.

2. A cart-on comprising a bottom section and a removable cover section,said bottom section comprising pockets and posts between said pocketsalong the sides of said bottom section, wail segments of less heightthan said posts extending between said posts, said cover section havinga rim portion resting on top of said posts and 4, leaving openingsbetween said posts for inspection of the contents of the pockets, coverlocking posts of greater height than said side posts interposed betweensaid side posts on opposite sides of said bottom section, catch means onsaid cover engageable with said cover locking posts for securing thecover to said bottom section, there being a plurality of rows of saidpockets in said bottom section, and center posts of greater height thansaid side posts supporting said cover between said rows of pockets.

3. A carton tray comprising hollow inverted V-shaped partitions in arectangular pattern defining pockets, hollow posts at the four cornersof each pocket merging with said partitions, wall sections of lessheight than said posts interconnecting the posts along the sides andends of said tray, the posts merging with said partitions intermediatethe sides and ends of the tray being hollow center posts of greaterheight than said side posts, and holiow cover locking posts of heightintermediate between said side posts and said center posts interposedbetween said side posts.

4. A carton comprising a bottom section, side posts spaced apart aroundthe sides of said bottom section, wall egrnents between said posts, acover having a flat top wall with 21 depending rim portion arranged toseat on top of said posts, one side of said rim portion being hinged tothe top of said posts on one side of said bottom section, locking postson the opposite side of said bottom section, each locking post having ahorizontal top edge, a side wall on the opposite side of said coverarranged to overlap said locking posts, and lugs on said side wallarranged to engage under said top edge.

5. A tray as defined in claim 3, said cover locking posts being disposedon one side of said tray, and a cover hinged to said side posts on theopposite side of the tray, the center of said cover being supported onsaid center posts, and catch means on the swinging side of said coverengageable with said locking posts.

6. A tray as defined in claim 3, said cover locking posts being disposedon opposite sides of said tray, and a detachable cover having catchmeans on its opposite sides engageable with said locking posts, thecenter of said cover being supported on said center posts.

7. A carton comprising a bottom section, side posts spaced apart aroundthe sides of said bottom section, wall segments between said posts, aremovable cover having a top wall with 21 depending rim portion arrangedto seat on top of said posts, locking posts on two opposite sides ofsaid bottom section, each locking post having a horizontal top edge,side walls on two opposite sides of said cover arranged to overlap saidlocking posts, and lugs on said side walls arranged to engage under saidtop edges.

8. A carton comprising a bottom section and a cover, three-dimensionalcover seating posts spaced apart along at least one side of said bottomsection, a three-dimensional cover locking post between said seatingposts on at least said one side of said bottom section, wall sectionsbetween said posts, said cover having a top wall and a side wall on atleast said one side arranged to overlap said locking post and seaton-dsaid seating posts, catch means on said side wall engageable withsaid locking post, and means for securing the opposite side of saidcover to the opposite side of said bottom section.

9. A carton as defined in claim. 8, said securing means comprising ahinge.

It). A carton as defined in claim 8, said securing means comprising alocking post and catch means as on said one side whereby said cover isremovable.

11. A carton comprising a bottom section and a cover, three-dimensionaloover seatingposts spaced apart along at least one side of said bottomsection, a three-dimenslonal cover locking post of greater height thansaid seating posts between said seating posts on at least said one sideof said bottom section, wall sections between the sides of said posts,center posts in said bottom section, said cover having a top wall and aside wall on at least said one side arranged to overlap said lockingpost, a flat rim on said side wall disposed entirely in a commonhorizontal plane to seat on said seating posts, catch means on said sidewall engageable with said locking post, and means for securing theopposite side of said cover to the opposite side of said bottom section.

12. A carton as defined in claim 11, said securing means comprising ahinge.

13. A carton as defined in claim 11, said securing means comprising alocking post and catch means as on said one side whereby said cover isremovable.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,285,129 6/1942Schwartzberg 229-25 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1960 Great Britain.

10 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, JOSEPH R. LECLAIR,

Examiners.

1. A CARTON COMPRISING A BOTTOM SECTION AND A COVER SECTION, SAID BOTTOMSECTION COMPRISING POCKETS AND POSTS BETWEEN SAID POCKETS ALONG THESIDES OF SAID BOTTOM SECTION, WALL SEGMENTS OF LESS HEIGHT THAN SAIDPOSTS EXTENDING BETWEN SAID POSTS, SAID COVER SECTION HAVING A RIMPORTION RESTING ON TOP OF SAID POSTS AND LEAVING OPENINGS BETWEEN SAIDPOSTS FOR INSPECTION OF THE CONTANTS OF THE POCKETS, AN INTERRUPEDHINGED FOR SAID COVER ON SAID POSTS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID BOTTOM SECTION,COVER LOCKING POSTS